Punching machine

ABSTRACT

A machine, for punching sheet material, of the kind which comprises a body defining a throat, a die carried by the body adjacent to an open end of the throat, a punch carried by a member pivoted to the body, and means acting between the body and the pivoted member for shifting the punch in relation to the die, characterised in that the body includes a pair of substantially plane sheet metal plates disposed side by side and converging towards the open end of the throat, and a plurality of tie means extending between and secured to the two plates.

ilnite States atent [191 Gale Dec. 3, 1974 [54] PUNCHING MACHINE 695,680 3 1902 Foss 83/604 x 424, 46 l 969 T 83 597 X [76] Inventor: Wilfred Ernest Gale 5 Stream Park 3 433 1 09 3/i969 83/604 x East Grinstead, Sussex, England 9 22 i Sept 11, 1973 Primary Examiner-Frank T, Yost Art ,A t, F' W'lli Athn D kr 1 pp NO: 396,188 orney gen 0r zrm 1 am 11 o y we e {57] ABSTRACT ig Application Priority Data A machine, for punching sheet material, of the kind Sept. 18, 1972 Great Britain 43120/72 which comprises a body defining a throat, a die carried by the body adjacent to an open end of the [52] US. Cl 83/529, 83/589, 83/604, throat, a punch carried by a member pivoted to the 83/859 body, and means acting between the body and the piv- [51 1 Int. Cl B26d 1/26, B26d 7/26 oted member for shifting the punch in relation to the [58] Field of Search 83/597-606, die, characterised in that the body includes a pair of 83/529, 859, 589 substantially plane sheet metal plates disposed side by side and converging towards the open end of the [56] References Cited throat, and a plurality of tie means extending between UNITED STATES PATENTS and secured tothe two plates.

329,096 10/1885 Sto vcr 83/604 x 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Pmmum 31914 I 3,851,553

SHEET 10F 2 PATENTEL 9U} 31974 SHEET 20F 2 PUNCI'IING MACHINE This invention relates to a punching machine adapted to make openings in sheet material.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved form of body for such a machine, of relatively light and simple construction but nevertheless capable of withstanding strains imposed on it during coaction of a punch with a die.

The machine, for punching sheet material, is of the kind comprising a body defining a throat, a die carried by the body adjacent to an open end of the throat, a punch carried by a member pivoted to the body, and means acting between the body and the pivoted member for shifting the punch in relation to the die. According to the present invention such a machine is characterised in that the body includes a pair of substantially plane sheet-metal plates disposed side by side and converging towards the open end of the throat, and a plurality of tie means extending between and secured to the two plates. With such a construction, although the plates are relatively light compared with the very large castings conventionally used in such machines, they are capable of withstanding the punching stresses because the latter are exerted wholly in the plane of the plates and not transversely to their plane.

In a preferred form, the pivoted member is also made substantially wholly of sheet metal and includes a substantially triangular plane plate of sheet metal pivoted adjacent its base to the body, and carries the punch adjacent to its apex.

In a convenient form of construction, the body includes, adjacent to the open end of the throat, a sheet metal thrust plate mounted on said tie means, a lever system being coupled to the thrust plate and to the apex of the pivoted member, for operating the punch.

Means may advantageously be provided to act between the body and the pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.

An embodiment of punching machine in accordance with the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v

FIG. I is a side elevation of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side elevation, to a larger scale, of part of the machine to show the punch and die;

FIG. 5 is a perspective side elevation, to a larger scale, of part of the machine to show adjustable means for limiting the stroke of the punch.

Referring to FIGS. l to 3, the machine has a sheet metal base 1 on which is mounted a body 2. The body 2 is composed essentially of two plane side plates 3 and 4 of sheet metal which are secured by bolting flanges 5 and 6 to the base 1. Between the plates 3 and 4 there extends tie bars 7, at front, center and rear. The plates are placed at an angle so as to converge towards the front of the machine. The two plates 3 and 4 are cut away at the front to define a deep throat 8. The lower front portion carries a fixed mounting 9 for a die (see FIG. 4), and a work-piece support frame 10 extends laterally from the mounting 9.

At the inner end of the throat the plates 3 and 4 carry a pivot shaft 11 on which are engaged the two legs 12a, 12b of a bracket 12 welded at the broader rear end of a triangular sheet metal plate 13 having on its upper surface two reinforcing ribs l4, 15. At the forward end,

the pivoted plate 13 has a mounting 16 for a punch 17 adapted to co-operate with a die 18 secured on the mounting 9.

At the front end of the plates 3 and 4, on upper and lower tie bars 7, there is secured a central thrust plate 19 carrying a pivot bolt 20 for a hand lever 21. The lever 21.is coupled by a pivot bolt 22 to a link 23 which is coupled by a pin 24 to the ribs 14, 15 of the pivoted plate 13. Vertical pivoting movement of the hand lever 21 accordingly shifts the punch 17 into and out of the aperture of the die 18. Return springs 25 act between the ribs 14, 15 and the plate 19 to aid the upstroke.

On the ribs 14, 15 there are mounted parallel arms 26, 27 carrying lugs 28 supporting a threaded block 29 through which is engaged a threaded rod 30 having at one end a stop block 31 and at the other end a hand wheel 32. Adjustment of the axial position of the stop block 31 limits the extend of the downward stroke permitted to the punch.

Pivotable stops 33 can be moved into the disengaged position of FIG. 5 to permit greater than normal adjustment of the stop block 31.

Pivoted plates 34, for stripping the sheet material off the punch after punching, are mounted on respective pivot shafts carried by lugs 35 on the thrust plate 19, these plates being omitted for clarity in FIGS. 4 and 5.

' "punch carried by a member pivoted to the body, and

means acting between the body and the pivoted member for shifting the punch in relation to the die, characterised in that the body includes a pair of substantially plane sheet metal plates disposed side by side and converging towards the open end of the throat, and a plurality of tie meansextending between and secured to the two plates. Y

2. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoted member includes a substantially triangular plane plate of sheet metal pivoted adjacent its base to the body and carrying thepunch adjacent its apex.

3. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes, adjacent the open end of the throat, a sheet metal thrust plate mounted on said tie means, and wherein a lever system is coupled to said thrust plate and to the apex of said pivoted member.

4. A machine, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body includes, adjacent the open end of the throat, a sheet metal thrust plate mounted on said tie means, and wherein a lever system is coupled to said thrust plate and to the apex of said pivoted member.

5. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.

6. A machine, as claimed in claim 2, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.

7. A machine, as claimed in claim 3, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.

8. A machine, as claimed in claim 4, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch. 

1. A machine, for punching sheet material, of the kind comprising a body defining a throat, a die carried by the body adjacent to an open end of the throat, a punch carried by a member pivoted to the body, and means acting between the body and the pivoted member for shifting the punch in relation to the die, characterised in that the body includes a pair of substantially plane sheet metal plates disposed side by side and converging towards the open end of the throat, and a plurality of tie means extending between and secured to the two plates.
 2. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoted member includes a substantially triangular plane plate of sheet metal pivoted adjacent its base to the body and carrying the punch adjacent its apex.
 3. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body includes, adjacent the open end of the throat, a sheet metal thrust plate mounted on said tie means, and wherein a lever system is coupled to said thrust plate and to the apex of said pivoted member.
 4. A machine, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body includes, adjacent the open end of the throat, a sheet metal thrust plate mounted on said tie means, and wherein a lever system is coupled to said thrust plate and to the apex of said pivoted member.
 5. A machine, as claimed in claim 1, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.
 6. A machine, as claimed in claim 2, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.
 7. A machine, as claimed in claim 3, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch.
 8. A machine, as claimed in claim 4, including means acting between said body and said pivoted member for limiting the punching stroke of the punch. 